site.btaPrime Minister Radev Makes Inaugural Visit to Berlin

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev on Monday visited Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Germany is the first country Radev is visiting in his capacity as prime minister.

The visit aims to underscores the strategic and friendly ties between the two countries and Bulgaria’s intention to strengthen its partnership with Germany, both bilaterally and through multilateral cooperation, particularly within the European Union and NATO, according to an earlier cabinet statement.

Rumen Radev was welcomed with military honours by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Federal Chancellery in Berlin on Monday. Radev and Merz inspected the guard of honour before holding a one-on-one meeting.

During a joint briefing with the German Chancellor, Prime Minister Radev said that he had briefed his German counterpart on Bulgaria's socio-economic development in recent years and on the results of the snap parliamentary elections held a month ago.

“The most important thing for me is that Bulgaria has emerged not as a periphery, but as an important industrial and logistics partner of Germany in Southeast Europe,” Radev said. He acknowledged that years of political instability and rule-of-law concerns had limited Bulgaria’s potential, but said the situation is changing with the formation of what he described as a technocratic government with a clear reform agenda focused on economic development, high-tech industries, artificial intelligence, energy security and productivity.

Radev urged for achieving balance in the multiannual financial framework of the European Union.

He also stressed the need for Europe to play a stronger diplomatic role amid global economic uncertainty and ongoing conflicts, welcoming what he described as Europe’s readiness to work toward negotiations involving the United States, Europe, Ukraine and Russia. “It is high time for diplomacy, because this prolonged war is exhausting all parties involved and supporting it,” Radev said in response to a question about possible negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.

According to Radev, Europe also needs a clear strategy for strengthening its own defence capabilities and industrial base.

Welcoming Prime Minister Rumen Radev on his first foreign visit since taking office, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the importance of bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Germany.

According to him, Bulgaria and Germany are closely linked economically and have been strong partners within the European Union for years.

He stressed that strengthening the competitiveness of the European Union is among the main priorities.

“We must advance the internal market, reduce bureaucracy, and strengthen cooperation,” the German chancellor said.

The German chancellor also warned about rising debt levels in Europe.

Of the war in Ukraine, the German chancellor said that Europe is ready to participate in negotiations with Ukraine, Russia, and the United States.

“I am pleased that Bulgaria is following the path of European solidarity,” the chancellor added.

A plenary meeting of the two delegations was held, attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Investments and Industry Alexander Poulev and Minister of Foreign Affairs Velislava Petrova.

Talks focused on bilateral cooperation, European policy and international security.